Rein-holder.



No.'861,959. PATENTED JULY 30, 1907.

' E. R. FERRELL.

R EIN HOLDER.

APPLICATION FILED 812M229, 1906.

aR ocnu UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

REIN-HOLDER;

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 30, 1907.

Application filed September 29,1906. Serial No. 336,689.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ELIZABETH R. FERRELL, a citizen of the United States of America, residing at Cairo, in the county of Ritchie and State of West Virginia, have invented new and useful Improvements in Rein-Holders, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to a rein holder designed for application to a harness for the purpose of holding the reins in proper position over the horses back and preventing the same from getting under the horses tail or slipping down over the horses side, or becoming fast under ends of hip straps, thepbject in view being to provide a simple, efficient and readily applicable device of this nature which is susceptible for use with either single or double harness.

The drawing shows a perspective view of a rein holder embodying the preferred form of the invention.

As shown, the device comprises a body portion 1 provided with laterally extending arms 2 and a forwardly extending arm 3, the arms 2 being arranged to project from opposite sides of the body portion.

The device may be made of sheet metal or any other preferred material, and each arm is preferably longitudinally slotted for the greater portion of its length to secure a desired lightness. Each arm is provided at its outer end with suitable means for securing it to a portion of the harness. The body portion 1 in practice is arranged at the intersection of the back strap 4 and hip strap 5, with the arms 2 and 3 extending respectively over the hip strap 5 and back strap 4 in advance of said hip strap, each of said arms being provided at its outer or free end with a slot 7 or other device to engage the strap with which it connects, the straps passing upwardly through the slots, whereby the hold er is held in position. The body portion 1 is provided with a rein holding loop 8, cut therefrom or otherwise formed and comprising oppositely arranged semicircular members 9 having outwardly flaring upper or free ends 10 forming an interposed throat for the insertion and removal of the reins. The reins extend through this holder and are thereby supported and held in position so that they cannot slip down off of the horses back, but can be released or inserted instantly. I

In practice the device is preferably constructed of sheet metal stamped up in a single operation,. whereby cheapness of structure is secured. This operation of stamping up the device from a piece of sheet metal enables the portions of metal removed or displaced to form the slots 5 to be turned up to provide the side members of the rein-holding loop 8, thus obviating the necessity of making this loop as an independent element and securing it to the body of the device.

In applying the device, the straps are unbuckled and their free ends passed through the slots 7, when used; or clasps,rivets or screws of any preferred construction may be applied upon the arms 2 and 3 to fasten the same to such straps. It will be seen that the invention provides a rein-holding device which is thoroughly effective for its intended purpose and is adapted to be manufactured at a comparatively low cost, and is applicable to single or double harness. The arm 3 acts as a stay to hold the device firmly in proper position.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new, is

1. As a new article of manufacture, a rein holder constructed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion having a forwardly projecting arm and opposite laterally projecting arms, said arms being provided at their free ends with strap engaging means, said laterally projecting arms being provided with longitudinal slots, the metal displaced in the formation of said slots being bent upwardly to form a rein-holding loop upon the body portion.

2. As a new article of manufacture, a rein holder formed of sheet metal and comprising a body portion, a forwardly projecting arm, laterally projecting arms having longitudinal slots, both the forwardly and laterally projecting arms being provided at their free ends with strap slots, and a rein-holding loop upon the body portion com posed of oppositely arranged members formed by bending upwardly the metal displaced in the production of the slots in the lateral arms.

In testimony whereof, I aflixmy signature in presence of two Witnesses.

ELIZABETH R. FERRELL.

Witnesses J. H. RATHBUN, J. B. PmnsoN. 

